Arts, Anecdotes and Aspirations

2025 Year in Review: Artistic Growth, Cultural Preservation, Creative Horizons - A reflective look back at a year of creation, learning, and cultural connection — from stage to studio, and everywhere in between.

Tchaikovsky’s evocative, dance-like music redefined ballet, culminating in The Nutcracker—a blend of imagination, romance, and folk-inspired rhythm.

In our final chapter, I reflect on what this story has taught me about movement, creativity, and the quiet strength of believing in transformation.

From Ashton’s 1948 classic to Nureyev and Wheeldon, Cinderella evolves with each era, showing grace, wit, and resilience.

Amid war and censorship, Prokofiev’s Cinderella turns a familiar tale into humor, humanity, and a quiet act of artistic defiance.

Long before Prokofiev set her story to music, Cinderella lived in the hearts of countless cultures — from Biblical origins to Ming Dynasty China. This chapter follows the fairy tale’s journey through centuries of storytelling and transformation.

Eighty years after its premiere, Cinderella remains one of ballet’s most beloved fairy tales. This series explores why Prokofiev’s masterpiece continues to captivate audiences — tracing its mythic roots, creative evolution, and enduring emotional power. What is it about Cinderella that keeps audiences spellbound after eight decades? We open our series by exploring the ballet’s universal themes of transformation, kindness, and grace — and why this story still feels achingly r

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the canonization of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton — the first U.S.-born person to be elevated to...